FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Energize Connecticut is looking for creative students in Fairfield County to enter the 10th annual eesmarts contest.

Energize Connecticut, in partnership with Connecticut Light & Power and the United Illuminating Co., are presenting an annual contest that invites students in kindergarten to 12th grade to showcase their “energy smarts” about energy-saving, renewable energy, and sustainability through various media forms, according to a press release.

Finalists for each grade level will be honored at a special awards ceremony on June 5, at the State Capitol in Hartford.

“One of the biggest goals of the eesmarts program is to raise awareness among Connecticut youth that our future energy efficient and clean energy world starts with them,” said Jamie Howland of ENE (Environment Northeast) and Chairman of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board. “The contest provides students with the opportunity to creatively demonstrate their understanding of just how important these concepts really are.”

Students in grades K-8 answer grade-level specific prompts in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), narrative (Grade 3), news article (Grade 4), book review (Grade 5), essay (Grade 6), speech (Grade 7), or public service announcement (Grade 8). Students in high school compete in the “Power of Change” award category, which asks students to "propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue," according to the release.

The “Power of Change” category was created in collaboration with Connecticut-based foundations Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Hampshire Foundation, and the Common Sense Fund.

The eesmarts program provides grants of $1,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place, with the foundations matching the grant levels.

The contest is open to all students in Connecticut and the deadline for entries is May 2. For more information about the contest, residents are asked to visit the eesmarts website.

Energize Connecticut is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, the State, and the local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.